Oracy

What is oracy?  

Oracy, in its most simple terms is the ability to articulate ideas, develop understanding and engage with others through spoken language. It's having the vocabulary to say what you want to say and the ability to structure your thoughts so that they make sense to others. Oracy covers four main strands of talk: the physical, linguistic, cognitive, and social and emotional - all essential for good verbal communication.  

Why is oracy important in education? 

Teaching the skills of good oracy means providing young people with the tools to organise effective talk. Within the classroom, if students can articulate their ideas, their thoughts and their thinking verbally, they are more likely going to be able to transfer this knowledge to paper. 

Why is it important that students leave with good oracy skills?  

The benefits of good oracy skills go far beyond academic achievement and employability. They boost a whole range of social, emotional, and interpersonal skills, including self-confidence, self-awareness, resilience and empathy. Young people, who have the skills to manage their language choices, adapt their register to suit a range of situations and scenarios are better prepared for the wider world.  

How are we including oracy in The Marlborough Science Academy? 

Oracy is as important as numeracy and literacy, and such we are making time for oracy in our Form Time provision and in our classroom. In Form Time, students are given a ‘Big Question’ to discuss. The questions span a range of issues and are as diverse as living in the modern world can be! After each discussion student vote on whether they agree or disagree to that the voice of the students can be seen and heard. In lessons, teachers allow students to discuss their thinking through open questioning, debates, discussion and role play. There is a high expectation of good oracy and this is role modelled by staff within the school. Oracy is also a regular feature of our Teaching Tips and ideas, articles, and pedagogical research is shared.